The pets thread aka my house smells of cat/dog/other piss

It is still alive, right? Looks like it could have X's for eyes. 😀

Your pets are all mental.

He’s currently running rampage as per usual so I’ll say yes.

He bloody tries. Luckily he's too small at the moment.

My 8 month old Bernese Mountian Dog keeps having intermittent diarrhea (for a day or two at a time, then he's fine for a week or so) and I'm not sure what's causing it (first time I've owned a Bernese).

He's on a raw, complete diet mixed with kibble, fed twice a day. Whenever he gets the runs we give him chicken and rice, some boiled eggs and thuja tablets which usually firm him up in a day or so's time. I've fenced off the back of the garden so all he has access to is grass and can't get into anything dodgy. He only goes on short walks due to his age and he's absolutely fine in himself, mood-wise.

Had a three week period recently where his stools were all normal and we thought we'd cracked it but then today he's had a runny one and it's really upset my partner (who works from home and has to deal with most of it). We've rang our vet but they say it's fairly normal for pups to have the odd bit of diarrhea and as long as his mood's fine and there's no change in behaviour we shouldn't worry unless it's consistent over a period of days.

Any advice or experience of this? Wouldn't be so much of a problem if he wasn't a 7 stone pup who doesn't do small poos!

Our dog had the shits for a while. She's 16 months now. We cut out the kibble completely and just give her raw food and her poos have been pretty consistent.

I did hate the rice and chicken phases though so I feel your pain.

We stopped feeding raw eventually because our dog was getting regular diarrhoea.

This and having to treat them like babies is not convincing me that I might like to get a dog one day. I am however starting to understand why people get so attached to them

Yeah, dogs are definitely not for everyone. It is incredibly worthwhile, though, for all of the work and annoyances. Cats are a lot easier.

But then, let's face it, some people shouldn't be responsible for anything at all (that's not aimed at you, Aunty).

Thanks for the advice everyone, really appreciate it.

And yeah, as much as it grates when you wake on a saturday morning to shit everywhere in the kitchen (including him sitting in it and then wagging his tail as I opened the door, spraying it across the blinds, the walls and myself) and spending 3 hours to clean it all up, give him a bath and prep some rice and chicken - it's all worth it when he sits next to you and puts his paw on your leg, looking for affection.

Loveable little bastard.

dogbot He was fine the first few months we've had him, it's only recently over the last couple of months that it's started.

I'm fairly certain it's nothing too bad as we've just come off a 3 week stretch where he's been absolutely fine with his stools.

The accident above was a day after he had a vigorous play session with a mates dog - I think we let him go for too long and it made his back end weak (and I didn't stay out long enough with him at night to do his business) - lesson learned on that one.

We always take him out last thing at night but sometimes the little snide's more interested in digging the garden than going to the toilet, even though we play with him quite a lot in the evening (and walk him).

The main worry I have is that some of the times he's had it it's come out of nowhere - he's dashed in from the living room into the kitchen and sprayed everywhere, can't even wait till I open the door. Fair bit of gas involved in these ones.

Like I said - mood absolutely fine, healthy appetite and loves all his usual things. Just trying to pinpoint what's setting him off!

He was on raw from the start, however it was three meals a day, two with bisuits and one with raw - eventually as he's grown we've followed the meal plan the breeder gave us and now he's on two meals a day that are a mix of raw and biscuits.

He was fine for a couple of months on the latter plan but these last two months have been a bit touch and go - I'm going over the garden with a fine tooth comb after work to see if I can see anything!

We've kept an eye on the raw we've given him as you state but he seems to be fine with most of it (except oily fish which we found out fairly early on!).

Our garage has a fair bit of moss on it and the birds peck at it and knock it on the garden - I'm going to give it a good clearout when I get home to make sure it's not that (could be covered in bird shit for all I know).

Unrealistically, if I could know for certain (I'm 99% confident) that it wasn't anything serious/long-term most of my fears would be gone. Just part of the learning process for us as owners I guess!

Just chatting it out in here has helped my mood massively, thanks dogbot , really appreciate your time (and everyone else who's commented).

I'll try and get some pictures of him uploaded here to join the FG club!

rhaegyr totally understand mate. Always happy to have a chat. Personally, I think dogs are about the greatest thing ever (in case that isn't obvious). I'm not an proper expert, but I've always been around them and I've been exactly where you are - with the worry and how it can make you feel.

It'll pass.

Where your picture then Danno